“Mahashivratri is the day of Shiva. Wherever there is beauty, truth, and benevolence, there is Shiva. And, there is no place where the Shiva principle is absent. But, Shiva is not a person. It is that principle which is the summum bonum of the whole creation and pervades the entire universe. This principle, called the Shiva Tattva, is the quintessence of life and is present deep within every living being.

On Mahashivratri, we celebrate the Shiva Tattva by going deep within us, meditating, and rejoicing in the Shiva energy. There are certain days and time frames in a year when one’s mental health and spiritual faculties are enhanced and Mahashivratri is one such precious day.”
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Best Remedy for Rahu and Shani (Saturn)

Saturn and Rahu are Vayu tattva planets (Air element) and they cause disorder, chaos and restlessness when afflicted. The Nakshatra component of the daily panchang also represents Vayu tattva and that is why as the moon’s transit through the 27 nakshatras have a direct impact on our state of mind and emotions. 

Shani and Rahu have the power to bring unrest to our prana or life force energy and that is why Pranayama or breathwork techniques such as Sudarshan Kriya are very effective to combat them.

Lord Shiva – the deity of the universal life force has complete control of Vayu tattva and vata dosha and HE has the power harmonize the malefic effects of Shani and Rahu.

Shivratri 2022

New Delhi, India
This year Shivratri falls on the 1st of March, 2022.
Ratri First Prahar Puja Time – 18:21 to 21:27
Ratri Second Prahar Puja Time – 21:27 to 00:33, Mar 02
Ratri Third Prahar Puja Time – 00:33 to 03:39, Mar 02
Ratri Fourth Prahar Puja Time – 03:39 to 06:45, Mar 02

New York, USA
This year Shivratri falls on the 28th of February, 2022.
Ratri First Prahar Puja Time – 17:46 to 20:57
Ratri Second Prahar Puja Time – 20:57 to 00:08, Mar 01
Ratri Third Prahar Puja Time – 00:08 to 03:19, Mar 01
Ratri Fourth Prahar Puja Time – 03:19 to 06:30, Mar 01

London, UK
This year Shivratri falls on the 28th of February, 2022.
Ratri First Prahar Puja Time – 17:39 to 20:56
Ratri Second Prahar Puja Time – 20:56 to 00:12, Mar 01
Ratri Third Prahar Puja Time – 00:12 to 03:29, Mar 01
Ratri Fourth Prahar Puja Time – 03:29 to 06:46, Mar 01

For local timings check the align27 app.

Significance of Fasting during Mahashivratri

The Sun in Aquarius is the time when Lord Shiva drank the poison that came from the churning of the ocean. People fast during the entire day and night of Shivratri. This is the most spiritual fast you can ever observe. 

It is also believed that the mantra chanting we do by being awake during Shivratri is extremely effective. When Lord Shiva drank the poison, Goddess Parvati prayed for HIS protection and on this day Rishi Atri answered her prayers by placing the Moon on Lord Shiva to cool HIM down. 

Fasting during Shivratri is the ultimate purification ritual. It is the time when Lord Shiva ensures the soul is being relieved from the karmic burden. So it is said that Lord Shiva will drink the poison we have accumulated from many many lifetimes if we are able to fast on this day. 

The day time fasting is good for Marriage, prosperity, wealth and everything material. The night time fasting is great for purification and relief from karmic debts.

Simple Mahashivratri Rituals 

For personalized rituals download the align27 app.

  1. Keep a sankalpa (intention) to perform rituals on this day and seek the divine grace to allow you to complete it successfully without any obstruction.
  2. Chant Aum Namah Shivaya 1008 times or more. Today’s mantra chanting is extremely powerful than any other day.
  3. Keep a fast, do as much as you can.
  4. Listen to Sri Rudram or participate in Rudrabhishekam or Rudra Homa. 
  5. Chant or listen to the Shiva Panchakshari (5 times).
  6. Light a lamp with Mahua oil or ghee. 
  7. If you have a Shivlingam at home you can perform abhishekam with water, milk, yoghurt, chandan, rose water, rice powder, holy ash, turmeric water, coconut water etc.
  8. Meditation – This is the most important ritual of the day as there is a natural upsurge of  energy and meditation helps you make the best use of it. You can do the Shiva Guided Meditation by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar available on the Sattva App!
  9. If you have access to Bilwa leaves please offer them to Lord Shiva 
  10. Immerse yourself in the Shiva energy by listening to songs of Lord Shiva especially the ones written by Adi Shankaracharya and let the energy in the universe guide you. 
  11. Donate – At the end of your vrat always remember to donate money to people who genuinely need it. 
  12. Be Grateful and thank the divine for letting you perform these rituals. 

Detailed Mahashivratri Rituals 

Wake up and take a sankalpa (intention) – Oh Dear Mahadeva, Nilakantha i intend to perform the Shivratri Vrta – Please allow my vrta to be completed successfully by your grace, without any obstruction. Do not let the enemies like passion, greed and anger trouble me during this time.

You can keep a full fasting or a partial fast based on your health and capability.

Prahar is a 3 hour period, and as per Shivmahapuran we will be doing rituals during each prahar of the night. There will be 4 prahars from Sunset to Sunrise.

First Prahar (check align27 app for local timings)

  1. Light a lamp
  2. Chant Aum Namah Shivaya 108 or 1080 times (how many ever you possibly can).
  3. Perform Rudrabhishekam
  4. Offerings – Panchamrut, Sandalwood paste, Unbroken rice, black gingerly seeds, bilwa leaves
  5. You can offer lotus flowers by chanting his 8 names (see below)
  6. Offer Incense stick or dhoop
  7. Offer camphor aarti 
  8. Food offering – Cooked rice, half a coconut and betel)

Second Prahar (check align27 app for local timings)

  1. Light a lamp
  2. Chant Aum Namah Shivaya (twice the number of times from the first prahar, so if you did it 108 times during the 1st prahar, then you do it 216 times during this prahar)
  3. Perform Rudrabhishekam
  4. Offerings – Gingerly seeds, barley, lotus flowers and bilwa leaves, citron fruits
  5. You can offer lotus flowers by chanting his 8 names (see below)
  6. Offer Incense stick or dhoop
  7. Offer camphor aarti 
  8. Food offering – Payasam (milk based sweet dish)

Third Prahar (check align27 app for local timings)

  1. Light a lamp
  2. Chant Aum Namah Shivaya (thrice the number of times from the first prahar, so if you did it 108 times during the 1st prahar, then you do it 324 times during this prahar)
  3. Perform Rudrabhishekam
  4. Offerings – Wheat, Sun flowers and bilwa leaves, Pomegranate
  5. Offer Incense stick or dhoop
  6. Offer camphor aarti 
  7. Food offering – Fried food and Various vegetable dishes

Fourth Prahar (check align27 app for local timings)

  1. Light a lamp
  2. Chant Aum Namah Shivaya (four the number of times from the first prahar, so if you did it 108 times during the 1st prahar, then you do it 432 times during this prahar)
  3. Perform Rudrabhishekam
  4. Offerings – black gram, green gram, priyangu grains, or any of the 7 cereals, flowers of sankapushpi, and bilva
  5. Offer Incense stick or dhoop
  6. Offer camphor aarti 
  7. Food offering – Sweet dishes or cooked rice with black gram or other fried food items.

8 Names of Lord Shiva

  1. Aum Ishanaya Namah
  2. Aum Mahadevaya Namah
  3. Aum Rudraya Namah
  4. Aum Sharvaya Namah
  5. Aum Bhiimaya Namah
  6. Aum Bhavaya Namah
  7. Aum Ugraaya Namah
  8. Aum Pashupataye Namah

Story from Shiva Mahapuran